From the Sideline with Candice Crawford: Who Will Scott Pioli Choose to be the Next Head Coach of the Chiefs? Take Your Pick

From the Sideline with Candice Crawford

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So I hate to say this but I told you so.

Scott Pioli, the newest member to the Chiefs organization, made it official two weeks ago when he fired Herm Edwards.

Word immediately spread that they were talking to none other than Mike Shanahan, the former head coach of the Denver Broncos. I said in my last article that Mike Shanahan, with his expertise in the running game, would make a great fit for the Chiefs. However, they are having problems getting the deal signed, sealed, and delivered, so I don’t want to be disappointed if that doesn’t work out.

What are their other options?

Todd Haley — He is the offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals who have found themselves in Super bowl XLIII. He’s a young and fiery assistant and has been at the helm of one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses since 2007. Haley has learned from the best, working under Bill Parcells in Dallas for two seasons. The Chiefs are in need of a fresh start, and Haley is right out of the oven. Seeming inexperienced compared to the rest of the candidates, Haley has received recognition because of Arizona’ s recent run. His passion and emotion could be just the thing for the young Chiefs.

Clancy Pendergast — Maybe a better choice than Haley due to his experience and defensive mindset. While most fans do not recognize the Cardinals a strong defensive team, Pendergast improved their defense from 26th to 12th in his first year (2004) and improved it to 8th overall in 2005. Recently, their defense has shown a tremendous ability to show up in crucial sports throughout the season and into the playoffs. Pendergast’s specialty seems to be his ability to develop a strong defensive line, showcased by his development of Bertrand Berry and Darnell Dockett into Pro Bowlers, which has fit in very nicely with the Chiefs’ young, but very talented, defensive line.

Clandy Pendergast’s experience began in 1995 when he came into the league with the Houston Oilers, but his recognition started with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996. In his 6+ seasons with the ‘Boys, Pendergast was a defensive assistant working with both the secondary and linebackers and is credited with turning safety Roy Williams in to a perennial Pro Bowler. While most are hot on Haley, Pendergast just might be the real treasure on that Arizona staff.

But what if Pioli wants to go in the direction of established head coaches to steer the Chiefs in the right direction? Here are a few possible names, some more likely than others.

Jon Gruden is an obvious choice after being let go this by the Bucceneers on January 16th. He is known for his offensive focus, which helped them get a 12-5 record and a Super Bowl title in his first year with Tampa. Arguably, he took Super Bowl ready team — cooked and baked by Tony Dungy and Gruden just took them out of the oven.

Gruden is considered a safe choice, because he is a “big-name” in the NFL. But I don’t think he is the spark that would ignite enough change for the Chiefs. His ex-Buc’s players don’t like him — he’s apparently a “scumbag” — and even the fans influenced his recent firing. He may have a Super Bowl ring on his finger, but the Bucs turned into a mediocre team on his watch, and the Chiefs are not looking to get worse.

Bill Cowher has expressed some interest in wanting to stay retired for another season, but he would be a perfect fit for the position. Cowher is the face of a traditional football coach, literally. The Chiefs are a similar franchise to the Steelers in terms of history, tradition, and work ethic, and Cowher would make a seemless transition. Cowher’s emotion and excitement would give the Chiefs a much needed reputation makeover and return the edge and grit of the vaunted Chiefs teams of the past.

Dan Reeves- One of the greatest head coaches of all-time has shown interest in returning as a coordinator with the 49ers. Maybe he wants a bigger challenge with more cap room.

Speaking of traditional coaches, how about Mike Holmgren? While most believe he wants to take some time to enjoy retirement, Holgrem might get the itch to come back to the Midwest. He is excellent at mentoring young quarterbacks, which would be exponentially beneficial to Brody Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, or a potential young draft pick (if they choose to go that route….more on that in the coming weeks.)

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Candice Crawford is a Featured Author for Midwest Sports Fans and regularly provides her unique perspective into the sports world in her column “From the Sideline.” A native of Dallas, Texas, Candice will graduate from the University of Missouri in May of 2009 with a degree in journalism. You can email Candice with questions or comments about her “From the Sideline” features at candice@midwestsportsfans.com.

Herm or no Herm? That is the Question for Scott Pioli and the Chiefs

In the first From the Sideline, I broke down the three major decisions that Scott Pioli will have to make as the Kansas City Chiefs’ new General Manager, starting with whether or not to keep or fire head coach Herm Edwards.

Herm once said, “You play to win the game,” but somehow those words haven’t translated well with the Kansas City Chiefs, who started the 2008 season losing 11 out of their first 12 games and finishing with a 2-14 record. But is this so surprising? He had only mild success with the Jets before he made his way to the Midwest and was fought over as though he held all the answers for the Chiefs.

ESPN reported last week that Scott Pioli’s decision to keep or release Herm Edwards, would be final by the end of this week. Herm Edwards is a good coach and has had some success in the NFL, but somehow he has not been able to execute with the prosperity that he and Kansas City had hoped he would have.

Scott Pioli is going to have to decide whether or not Edwards had lost the team’s, for lack of a better word, “respect.” I believe that his players respect him as a coach and as a person, but there is only so much defeat you can take emotionally and mentally as an athlete. I would know, I played sports my entire life; and from experience, when it comes to a point where you and your team are accustomed to losing, you don’t care if you like the coach or not, you just want something to change, something that brings enthusiasm back to the game. If Herm Edwards is to come back next year are they going to have enthusiasm to come out every Sunday and “Play to win the game?” It’s hard to compartmentalize a 2-14 season.

The Cowboys are going through a similar stint with Wade Philips. Philips has no control anymore of his team and his softened persona gives players, Tony Romo in particular, the freedom to laugh and smile on the sidelines like they are up 44-6 with two minutes left…except wait, that was the Eagles who were up 44-6.

And while I’m on the subject, the fashion shows that Romo has during the press conferences are creating quite a lot of animosity among the fans. Someone needs to tell him that after yet another loss, coming out in a beret only shifts the focus from how you completely lost the game to how you have completely lost your mind. The Cowboys went from Bill Parcells the General to Wade Phillips the Grandpa and it’s not working.

Pioli is going to have to decide for himself whether or not the Chiefs have a Wade Philips on their hands or if Edwards can be the man to turn the team around like Bill Cowher did with the Steelers in 1992, taking them from a 7-9 record the previous season to an 11-5 record and winning home advantage in the AFC.

If Scott Pioli believes in miracles and keeps Edwards around, I think it would be only because he might have more hiring options at the end of the 2009 season. Who knows — Tony Dungy might be restless after a year of retirement.

I think Pioli is going to look to greener pastures A) because that is what most GM’s do, they like to bring in their own people; they want to be responsible for the success or failure of the team they are running, and B) because the Chiefs need a fresh start. They are getting a new GM, a newly remodeled stadium and need a new head coach to go with the equation.

But then who does Pioli hire? Would he dare try to hire Mike Shanahan, the ex-head coach of the Chiefs’ arch-rival, Denver Broncos? That could be an excellent fit, as Mike Shanahan is known for producing thousand yard backs and if they keep Larry Johnson, which they should, those two together could be detrimental to their opponents in the 2009 season. Not to mention the tutelage Shanahan could provide to the Chiefs’ young and undersized offensive line, a staple of Shanahan’s zone blocking schemes.

The Chiefs also have a quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, whose mobility and arm strength bear resemblance to current Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, and Shanahan-favorite, Tony Romo. Just think about it: Shanahan’s offensive success was based around John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Shannon Sharpe, and the Chiefs have those pieces in place with Tyler Thigpen, Larry Johnson, and Tony Gonzalez.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Herm Edwards is great person, a well respected coach and has done all he can for the Chiefs; but I think we can all agree that it is time for a new beginning for the Chiefs and that their fans deserve it.

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Candice Crawford is a Featured Author for Midwest Sports Fans and regularly provides her unique perspective into the sports world in her column “From the Sideline.” A native of Dallas, Texas, Candice will graduate from the University of Missouri in May of 2009 with a degree in journalism. You can email Candice with questions or comments about her “From the Sideline” features at candice@midwestsportsfans.com.

From the Sideline: Can Scott Pioli Turn the Chiefs Around Without Bill Belichick?

Editor’s Note: I am pleased to welcome Candice Crawford to Midwest Sports Fans as our newest Featured Author. Candice will graduate this May with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri and she has extensive experience as both a sports reporter and sports anchor at KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. Candice will be writing a regular feature entitled “From the Sideline” and offering further proof that women are smarter and more insightful than men, even when it comes to sports.

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Who is Scott Pioli?

He is a big name to those who follow the NFL and especially to those in New England. But going from the East coast to the Midwest, you may hear him use the phrase “I’m not in New England anymore.”

That’s right Scotty you’re not. You’re in Kansas City now.

You have entered into a franchise of heartbroken fans, exhausted from the never-ending disappointments; a team that hasn’t seen the Super Bowl since 1970 or a playoff appearance since 2004. You are, however, getting to work with $32 million under the cap and the number three draft-pick.

Scott Pioli is leaving the Patriots after seven seasons, three Super Bowl titles and five division titles. He must be looking for a bigger challenge; three Super Bowl wins is old news. And obviously his successes provide the Chiefs’ fans with the hope that they too will see their team at least make it to one Super Bowl after almost 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

Before you go out and buy your season tickets, however, remember that someone is missing from this equation: Bill Belichick.

Scott Pioli’s successes with the Patriots have been alongside his pal Coach Belichick. Belichick hired him as pro personnel assistant while coaching for the Cleveland Browns, but after Belichick got fired and the Browns moved to Baltimore, Pioli stayed with the team and left his man Belichick to fend for himself. The separation only lasted a year until Pioli reunited with Belichick in New England in 2000, when Belichick got the head coaching job. Together they became the architects of the New England Patriots’ dynasty.

So the question is, can Pioli turn this franchise around on his own? Without his boy and pal Bill Belichick?

A quick side note for those wondering about Scott Pioli’s turnaround pedigree: Pioli is the son-in-law of turnaround specialist Bill Parcells. We don’t need to go into the history and successes of Bill Parcells, but I will mention the fact that as an executive, he brought the Miami Dolphins from a 1-15 2007 season to a successful 2008 season in which the Dolphins bested even the great Bill Belichick to win the AFC East.

If Pioli gets in a bind, he can call up his good ’ol father-in-law for a little advice. (I wonder if he calls him the “Big Tuna” or just Bill?) Needless to say, Scott Pioli looks good on paper and is exactly what the Chiefs need.

But only time will tell if Pioli will get the job done, and he has some important decisions to make immediately as the Chiefs new General Manager; three major decisions to be exact.

1. He has to decide if Herm Edwards can do the job, or if he has lost the reigns of the Chiefs players entirely.
2. Pioli has a pretty large salary cap to work with going into this 2009 season and has room to replace and rebuild to where he sees fit.
3. The Chiefs have the 3rd pick in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft and Pioli will have to decide which player offers the most value and fills the biggest need for the Chiefs. I’m thinking QB if you ask me.

So once Pioli gets those three things squared away, we will hopefully be able to watch the Chiefs this 2009 season without wanting to go punch our walls or whoever is closest in proximity.

Candice Crawford is a Featured Author for Midwest Sports Fans and regularly provides her unique perspective into the sports world in her column “From the Sideline.” A native of Dallas, Texas, Candice will graduate from the University of Missouri in May of 2009 with a degree in journalism. You can email Candice with questions or comments about her “From the Sideline” features at candice@midwestsportsfans.com.